Expats in Shanghai become fire volunteers

Expats in Changning Districts have become the first foreign fire volunteers in Shanghai.

The foreign fire volunteer team was established in the district on Thursday as the 23rd China Youth Volunteer Service Day takes place on Saturday.

On Thursday, more than 10 team members from France, the Netherlands, India, Italy, Chile and the Philippines visited a fire and rescue station, learned how to use fire extinguishers and tie knots in ropes to use as fire escapes, and held a fire drill at a restaurant.

Nicolas Le Bec, owner of Villa Le Bec restaurant, said he cherished the opportunity to become a local fire volunteer.

"As someone who has been working in the culinary industry for 35 years, I know how important fire safety is for both the business and our guests," he said. "I will use what I have learned here to train my team and keep our guests safe."

Gert van Beek, director of guest relations at Crowne Plaza Shanghai, said it's important for him to understand how to create a safe environment for hotel guests and the community.

"I learned how to evacuate a building during a fire and extinguish a fire," he said. "Through a visit to the district fire department, I saw that local firefighters are doing an amazing job."

There are more than 80,000 foreign residents in Changning – 20 percent of the city's total expat population – and the district's fire and rescue authorities said they will recruit more expat fire volunteers in the future.